I have an announcement to make to the House in connection with the days and hours of the Dáil sittings. At a meeting of the Committee of Procedure and Privileges to-day, it was decided to recommend that, in future, the House sit until 10.30 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays, instead of until 9 p.m. as at present. Furthermore, when a motion for the adjournment arises, it will be taken at 10 p.m., so that it will be concluded at 10.30. Private Members' time will commence always at 9 p.m., instead of at 7.30 as heretofore. Friday sittings will be as usual, from 10.30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Sittings of Dáil.
Does this operate from next week?
Yes. I hope to have a motion ready for next Wednesday.
I think all Parties in the House would be glad if the Government would consider giving the House some idea on Thursday or Friday of the business it is intended to carry through in the following week. It is very difficult for Deputies to be prepared for work coming along in an unexpected way. The least the House might expect would be that, when leaving at the end of any week, Deputies would have a fairly clear idea as to what main work, at any rate, was to be done the following week.
That might not always be possible.
It is really as far as the main planned work is concerned and it does seem ridiculous that the members of the House cannot know, when they are going home one week, what they ought to be prepared to discuss the following week. I think it could be arranged if the matter were considered.
When does the Parliamentary Secretary propose to bring in the motion to sit later?
Next Wednesday.